Beer and Cheese Pairing – a trend we can sink our teeth into

Beer dinners. Beer with chocolate. Beer with cheese. Any way you pair it we say, “Yes please!” to this rising trend of pairing beer with food.

A few weeks ago, we were talking with Goose Island head brewer Greg Hall about the rising trend of pairing craft beer with fine food in his hometown of Chicago. He said that beer dinners in high-end Chicago restaurants are becoming commonplace. He even said that he and Top Chef Rick Bayless are working on some special projects together. (Can’t wait to hear more about that!)

In Seattle we know that some trends are started here and some migrate to us from the east coast. This seems like one of those trends that is migrating west, and unlike the rabid Boston Red Sox fans and the Snuggie Pub Crawls that came before it, beer and food pairing is a trend we can embrace. The events with the most buzz around Seattle Beer Week and the Washington Brewers Belgianfest were beer dinners at the Corson Building and other upscale establishments. And we don’t even want to tell you about the brewers dinners they hold a couple times each year at Ray’s Boathouse. They sell out too quickly already.

The latest event to come across our radar screen is coming up next Friday, August 27th at an unlikely place, Urbane in the Olive 8 in Downtown Seattle. Not known as a typical beer bar, they have a “farm to table” concept menu featuring local farmers and producers. Their draft, bottle and wine list are 100% northwest.

Urbane Seattle

Befitting their theme, they’re hosting a Northwest Beer and Cheese Pairing Party from 5 to 9 p.m. featuring beers from Full Sail Brewing paired with dishes like Gruyere and Onion Flatbread or Aged Cheddar Mac and Cheese, each made using handmade artisanal cheeses. There are five pairings in all, and the cost is a surprisingly reasonable $17 for such a chic downtown location. No reservations required, and all five tastings are available throughout the event. More information is online, http://www.urbaneseattle.com/specials/special-events.php.